Mechanical toy



Nov. 1-7, 1925' C. C. BAIN MECHANICAL TOY Filed Feb, 24 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Nov. 17, 1925. 1,561,633 C. C. BAIN MECHANICAL TOY Filed Feb. 24, 1 5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W INVENTORv Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL C. BAIN, OF MOUNT LEBANON BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WOL- VERINE SUPPLY AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANICAL TOY.

Application filed February To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL C. Earn, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the borough of Mount Lebanon, county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Mechanical Toy, of which the following is a specification.

In general, my improved toy comprises a unitary track structure mounted to oscillate on a horizontal axis, and formed of a central helix connected at its ends to a pair of tangent portions which are disposed in angular relation to each other, so that when one of said tangents is in a low or substan tially horizontal position, the other tangent is disposed at a sutliciently steep incline that a car or other travelling object in running down the same may acquire sufficient momentum to traverse the helix and travel to the outer end of the first mentioned tangent; means, such as a stored-power motor, are provided for oscillating the track structure. I preferably provide means for retaining the travelling object at the outer end of the elevated tangent until the latter assumes an inclination steep enough to impart the necessary momentum to the travelling object.

I also preferably provide means whereby the track structure isheld stationary at the completion of a movement until the travel ling object has descended the elevated tangent, traversed the helix, and has begun its travel outwardly along the low tangent.

To prevent stain on the mechanism which would be incident to halting the motor by locking the track structure, I simultaneously halt the motor by means applied directly to the motor, said locking means being released simultaneously with the locking means of the track.

Other novel features of construction, and also of arrangement of parts will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section taken along the line I-I in Fig. 2, and showing a mechanical toy embodying the principles of my inven tion; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the platform; Fig. 4. is an enlarged detail in section along the line IVIV in Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a bro- 24, 1925. Serial No. 11,197.

ken plan view of the platform with certain parts positioned below the same indicated in dotted lines; Fig. 6 is a section taken alongthe line VI VI in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 1s a cllagrammatic view showing the method of connecting track sections together.

A' represents a horizontal platform which may be made of sheet metal supported above the floor as by the depending lateral-edge flanges 1. At one side of the platform is mounted the housing of the motor B, which is preferably of the spring or storedpower type, which housing is composed of a floor 2, outer side wall 3 and inner side wall 4.

5 is a horizontal shaft mounted transverse ly of and spaced above the platform A, one end of the shaft being supported by a stand 6 while its other end is supported by the motor housing. The track is a unitary structure which may be made of sheet metal, and which is comprised of a central helix C connecting at its ends with the tangent portions D and E which are angular-1y disposed to each other and lie in parallel vertical planes. The track structure is mounted on the platform A so as to oscillate as a unit about a horizontal axis. Thus the shaft 5 extends throughthe pierced ears depending from the lower side of the helix. The driving shaft 8 of the motor B is provided with a crank 9 which is connected by a link 10 with thehelix C so that, as the shaft 8 revolves, the track structure is oscillated, and first one tangent will be caused to assume a substantially horizontal position while the other tangent is disposed at a relatively steep incline, and vice versa.

The lateral edges of the track structure are provided with guard flanges 11, preferably formed by curling the edges of the metal inwardly and downwardly, and stiffening wires 12 may be included therein. ends of the tangents D and E are provided with platforms 13 whose floors are disposed at a sufiicient angle to the associated tangenm so that a travelling object such as the car F will be retained on the platform until the tangent assumesan inclination sutfieient to impart the necessary momentum to the car to enable it to traverse the helix and travel to the far end of the other tangent.

Such platforms are preferably provided The outer with side and end walls 1d of sufficient height to prevent the car jumping from the ends of the tangents when the latter are in their low positions.

Means are preferably provided for looking the track structure at a limit of its movement, to provide the necessary dwell to permit the travelling object to move out to the end of the low tangent and enter its platform 13 before the inception of the next movement of the track structure.

Thus I provide each of the tangents with locking means which automatically engage the tangents as they in turn reach their low positions, and which locking means are automatically disengaged as the travelling object moves along the low tangent toward the outer end of the latter.

Thus the tangent D is provided with the locking member Gwhichis pivotally mounted on a horizontally disposed pin 15 supported in twin stands 16 extending up from the platform A. The upper end of the member G is bevelled and hooked, while its lower end is weighted and depends through a slot 17 in the platform A. The floor of the tangent D is provided with a longitudinal slot 18 through which the hooked end of the member G protrudes upwardly when the tangent D is depressed, the hook engaging the inner end of the slot 18 to lock the tangent D in its low position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

The tangent E is provided with a simiiarly mounted locking member H which engages a similar slot 18 in the floor of the tangent E when the latter is depressed.

Thus at the completion of each movement of the oscillating track structure the same is locked stationary by the engagement of the low tangent with the corresponding locking member. After the traveling object has descended the elevated tangent and trav ersed the helix it travels along the low tangent and in passing over the slot 18 therein, thrusts aside and disengages the locking member, and therefore as the travelling obj ect reaches and lodges in the platform 13 at the outer end of the low tangent, a reverse movement of the track structure is beginning.

It is thus evident that a dwell is provided for between individual movements of the track structure which insures the travelling object reaching the outer end of the low tangent before its return movement is begun.

lfno direct-acting, means were provided for simultaneously stopping the motor, the track structure and track locking means would be subjected to considerable strain. Therefore I prefer to provide means whereby simultaneously with the looking sta tionary of the traclr structure the motor is also stopped by means acting directly thereon, and simultaneously with the unlocking of the track structure, said 11'10tO1lOOl l11g means are also disengaged.

Thus 19 is an angular lever whose outer end is pivotally supported below the platform A as by connection to the ear 20 struck down from said platform. The free end of the lever 19 is bent at right angles to the axis of the machine and has its extremity provided with a vertical linger 21, which when the lever 19 is raised is projected upwardly through slots 22 in the floor 2 of the motor housing and in the platform A, into the path of a paddle blade 23 connected to a pinion 2st which meshes with a larger pinion of the motor train. Intermediate of its ends the lever 19 is provided with an ear 26 which extends upwardly through a slot 27 in the platform A and is engaged by the pin 15 which carries the locking member G. The pin 15 engages vertical slots 28 stands 16 so that the looking member G and the lever 19 are capable of vertical movement within the limits defined by the ends of the slots 28. lit is evident that when the tangent assumes its low position and is engaged by the locking member G, it will tend at once to start to rise again owing to the operation of the motor. Such upward movement of the tangent D draws the looking member G upwardly to the limit of its vertical movement, thus raising the free end of the lever 19 and projecting the finger 21 into the path of the blade 23 of the motor, thus halting the motor.

When the travelling object F in moving outwardly along the tangent D disengages the locking member G, said member G and the lever 19 will drop, thus withdrawing the finger 21 from contact with the blade 23, thereby permitting the motor to resume op eration. 29 is a weight on the lever 19 to insure its dropping down when the member G is released.

30 is a bent lever also mounted beneath the platform A and having its outer end pivotally attached to the struck down ear 31, while its inner end 32 is reduced and inserted through an opening 33 Fig. (i in the transversely disposed portion of the lever 19. Intermediate of its ends said lever 30 is provided with an upwardly extending ear 3% which extends through a slot in the platform A and is engaged by the pin 15 of the looking member l-l. It is evident that when the locking member H is engaged with the tangent E and is raised thereby in like manner as above explained in connection with the tangent D, the inner end of the lever 30 will be raised, thus raising the lever 19 and locking the motor stationary. Likewise when the locking member H is disengaged the travel of the object l towardsthe outer end of the tangent E the lever 30 will drop, allowing the linger 2.1 to be retracted from enin the.

gagement with the blade 23 of the motor, thus permitting the motor to resume operation.

One important advantage in applying locking means directly to the motor is that the tension or strain on the track is relieved and the tangent-locking members do not bind and therefore are readily disengaged by a light car without materially reducing the speed of travel of the latter.

It is evident from the foregoing that as long as there is suflicient stored-power in the motor the track will be oscillated back and forth, causing the travelling object to traverse the same from one end to the other with sufiicient dwells between the move ments to insure the car reaching the outer end of the low tangent.

For convenience in packing and storing the toy I prefer to make each of the tangents in two portions, or rather form the inner portions of the tangents integral with the helix and provide the same with extensions which may be put in place when the toy is set up for use. Thus the lines of attachment are indicated at 35 in Figs. 1 and 2, and the method of connecting the sections together is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 7. Thus each end of track section has the wire 12 protruding from the curl flange 11 at one side and stopping short therein on the other side so that when the sections are put together the protruding portion of the wire of one section is inserted into the curl flange of the other section.

There is a positive advantage in placing the axis of rotation below the helix as the motion imparted thereto by the motor is thus a true oscillation of the tangents instead of a swing thrust movement which would result from oscillation about an axle above the lower portion of the helix.

-What I desire to claim is 1. In a mechanical toy for use in connection with a travelling object, the combination of a support, a unitary track structure mounted on said support to oscillate on a horizontal axis, said track structure being comprised of a pair of tangents in angular relation to each other and a helix interposed between and connected to the same, powermeans for oscillating said track structure,

and means whereby the track structure is caused to dwell at the completion of a movement until the travelling object has traversed the helix.

2. In a mechanical toy for use in connection with a travelling object, the combination of a support, a unitary track structure mounted on said support to oscillate on a horizontal axis, said track structure being comprised of a pair of tangents in angular relation to each other and a helix interposed between and connected to the same, powermeans for oscillating said track structure, and means whereby thetrack structure is caused to dwell at the completion of a movement until the travelling object has traversed the helix and is travelling with suflicient momentum to carry it to the outer end of the depressed tangent.

3. In a mechanical toy for use in connection with a travelling object, the combination of a support, a unitary track structure mounted on said support to oscillate on a horizontal axis, said track structure being comprised of a pair of tangents in angular relation to each other and a helix interposed between and connected to the same, powermeans for oscillating said track structure, means whereby the track structure is caused to dwell at the completion of a movement until the travelling object has traversed the helix, and means directly applied tothe motor to halt the same during said dwell.

4. In a mechanical toy for use in connection with a travelling object, the combination of a support, a unitary track structure mounted on said support to oscillate on a horizontal axis, said track structure being comprised of a pair of tangents in angular relation to each other and a helix interposed between and connected to the same, powermeans for oscillating said track structure, means whereby the track structure is caused to dwell at the completion of a movement until the travelling object has traversed the helix and is travelling with sufficient momentum to carry it to the outer end of the depressed tangent, and means directly applied to the motor to halt the same during said dwell.

Signed at Pittsburgh,

Pa., this 19th day of February, 1925.

CARL G. BAIN. 

